These Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings are the healthier version of an old favorite. Thickly cut onions are coated with Panko for super crunch!
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 40 minutesminutes
Total Time 55 minutesminutes
Servings 4servings
Ingredients
10ouncesonion(1 large sweet onion) cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds, separated
½cupall-purpose flour
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
½teaspoonsaltdivided
1egg
1tablespoonwater
1cupPanko breadcrumbs
Cooking spray(or olive oil in a mister)
Instructions
Before you being, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees and slice the onion into 1/2-inch rounds.
Make a breading station using three shallow bowls, pie plates, or dishes. In the first, combine the flour, smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well. In the second, add the egg and water and lightly beat together. In the third, stir together the panko and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
To bread the onion rings: 1) dredge them first in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. 2) next, dip the floured onion rings in the egg mixture allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl, and 3) dredge in the panko mixture being sure to press the breadcrumbs onto the onion rings to adhere.
As each onion ring is coated, place it on a flat surface (such as a rack, a baking pan, a sheet of parchment, or foil) and coat both sides well with cooking spray or oil.
Working in batches, place the onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. There should be a little space between each one. You can place smaller onion rings inside larger ones as long as the sides don't touch.
Air fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides (about 10 minutes total), turning them over halfway through cooking.
Keep cooked onion rings warm on a tray in a very low oven while the remaining ones cook.
Notes
If your air fryer has a rack accessory, you can cook two layers of onion rings at the same time.
You can use yellow onions for making onion rings if you like, but my preference is sweet onions such as Vidalia or Walla Walla.